TextMath and reasoning

Orca 2

Microsoft research models based on Llama 2, trained to choose a reasoning approach for each task. The orca-mini model in Ollama is a different project by independent developer Pankaj Mathur.

The last open version came out in Nov 2023. The family has not been updated for a long time: the model still works, but do not expect fixes or new sizes.

Developer
Microsoft Research, USA
First release
Nov 2023
Latest release
Nov 2023
Sizes
7B – 13B
License
Non-commercial onlyMicrosoft Research License: research only, no commercial use
Russian
Not stated
Ready-made builds
GGUF
Running
Available in OllamaNeeds a GPU
Industries
Science and research, Education
Deploy on your server Hugging Face

What it does

  • Research on reasoning methods
  • Comparison with modern small models
  • Training specialists

Where it is used

Research groupsUniversities

Hardware requirements

LaptopLaptop or regular PC, up to 8 GB of VRAM — smaller versions
fits
1 GPUOne GPU with 16–80 GB — mid-size versions
fits
ClusterServer with several GPUs — flagship versions
no versions

Versions

  1. Orca 2 (7B, 13B)

How to run it

With Ollama — the fastest wayInstall Ollama on your computer or server and find the model in its library by name. Good enough to try the model on your own tasks in one evening.Find it in the Ollama library
On your own serverWeights are downloaded from Hugging Face and served with vLLM (load and API) or llama.cpp (modest hardware). The model then runs in a closed network with no per-request fees.Hugging Face
How much hardware you needCalculate the VRAM for the model size, context length and number of concurrent requests.Open the hardware calculator

I can set this up end to end: pick the model size, deploy it on your server and connect it to your systems. Quantization compresses a model so it takes less video memory and runs on more modest hardware. Answers change slightly, so quality is checked on your own examples.

Frequently asked questions

Can Orca 2 be used in a commercial project?

No. License: Microsoft Research License: research only, no commercial use. A commercial product needs a different model or a separate agreement with the rights holder.

What hardware does Orca 2 need?

At minimum: Laptop or regular PC, up to 8 GB of VRAM — smaller versions. Without a GPU the model is not practical. You can calculate the exact VRAM for your model size and context in the hardware calculator.

Does Orca 2 support Russian?

The model card does not list languages, so Russian support cannot be promised — it has to be tested on your own examples.

Where can I download Orca 2 and what does it cost?

The Orca 2 weights are open and free to download. You only pay for the hardware it runs on and for the setup. Source links are at the bottom of this page.

How I deploy it for clients

  1. SelectionI pick the model size for your task and hardware and test it on your examples.
  2. DeploymentI deploy it on your server or in a closed network and provide an API.
  3. Fine-tuningI fine-tune it on your data (LoRA) or connect a knowledge base — whichever is cheaper for the task.
  4. IntegrationI connect it to your CRM, ERP, bot, website or team chat and set up monitoring.

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DetailsTextWizardLM, WizardCoder, WizardMathWizardLM (Microsoft and Peking University) · USA / ChinaCommercial use with conditions

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Details

Source: huggingface.co/microsoft/Orca-2-13b. Data checked against the model card on 22 Sep 2026. Have a lawyer review the license before commercial launch.